Gov. Haslam denies ‘litmus test’ on industries

Susan Brennan, vice president of manufacturing at Nissan’s Smyrna plant, speaks with Gov. Bill Haslam in 2012. The plant has a technical school where other companies can send their workers.(Photo: File / The Tennessean)

“No, I don’t,” the governor said when asked if he thought unionization was incompatible with growing sophisticated-technology industries such as auto production.

The response by Haslam, a Republican, came during the question-and-answer part of a forum on industrial policy at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. He participated in the forum along with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat.

Haslam was there to talk about how Tennessee had grown its automobile industry over the past 30 years. Hickenlooper discussed how Colorado fosters its aerospace industries.

In recent weeks, Haslam was one of several GOP politicians in Tennessee who voiced concerns about the UAW’s efforts in Chattanooga, which last week failed on a 712-626 vote. Union officials have said the politicians’ remarks amounted to outside interference.

“In this case, because I was hearing from so many potential suppliers, I thought it was important to let them (Volkswagen) know what I was hearing,” the Tennessee governor said about how unionization could adversely affect the state’s auto industry.

After the event, Haslam added, “We don’t have a litmus test of not working with any industry that’s unionized.”

He cited General Motors’ operations in Tennessee as an example.

A Brookings Institution report released at the event cited auto manufacturing and aerospace as examples of industries that account for “strategic innovation” and employment of “STEM workers” — those with science, technology, engineering and math skills.

Such industries account for 11 percent of gross domestic product and 80 percent of private-sector research and development that’s critical to long-term U.S. economic competitiveness, the report said.

It added that they account for one-third of U.S. exports.

They provide 7.4 million jobs, with only about half of those positions requiring four-year degrees. Average wages in so-called “advanced industries” are $94,000 a year, nearly double the average for all other U.S. industries.

The report listed 23 sectors as meeting the definition of advanced industries. In addition to auto manufacturing and aerospace, they include pharmaceuticals, computers and computer software, along with medical equipment and supplies, industrial machinery and household appliances.

“A lot of our large manufacturers are beginning to work together on things,” Haslam said.

As an example, he cited a technical school located at Nissan’s plant in Smyrna. He said Nissan allows other companies to send their workers there.

Meanwhile, he said, the state continues to “ratchet up” math and science requirements in public schools, and the state’s college and university system is evaluating costs involved with various degree programs.

“We’re putting more money where job demand is higher,” the Tennessee governor said.